Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1887-05-22
The Wool Industry.
Thoughts Called up by the An
nual Meeting OF Wednesday
Last.
Pointers Cleaned from Expert
enced Sheep Men which will
Prove Valuable to Growers.
SHEEP AND WOOL NOTES.

SHEEP AND WOOL NOTES.
The Sheep Herder Of the west-The Care
Of sheep-Items for Flockmaster-Mod-
ern Means of Shelter, Etc.
The modern shepherd of the west
who is blessed with q magnificent
fund Of carelessness and large con.
tempt for everything that relates To
care and attention toward sheep ID
rapidly becoming thing Of the past
and going the way of all things flesh.
1t has required q long time and deal
Of bitter experience among the flock.
masters, tefore this could be brought
about; but the elements were irresist.
ible and the blizzard's tune led the
owners Of flocks to adopt precautions
necessary for the protection Of their
fiocks. Our most modern herder will
strongly advocate the erection OF
places Of shelter. combining with this
an abundance Of feed and pure water.
The latter is found to be an indispens.
ible article in the successful following
Of this vocation. The subjects of hay
and cabin are calculated upon now
TO form completeness to this great and
growing industry. The practical
sheep grower no longer assures, as he
has ever been wont to do, that his
focks 'can stand anything" The
winter just past has been q severe one
for our sheep men, and the MAJOR por-
ton of them were unprepared to cope
with the rigors of continued cold and
severe snow storms-the w.rst known
for years. But the story Of those men
who had no hay or shelter has been
heard often Of late, so it is no new
thing, and not necessary to repeat the
sequel to this unpleasant story. 1t ID
not policy at any time to encourage
the idea that sheep should not require
attention after the grass crop has
started sufficiently to furnish reason
able supply Of feed. They should not
be turned directly onto the range TO
rustic for themselves. This plan does
not usually secure very profitable re.
suits, but in most all such cases the
outcome is quite contrary to expeota-
tions.
The pasture lanos intended for the
fiocks are most productive of good re-
suits which are reasonable high and
dry. Swampy or wet ranges are pro-
ductive Of fiuke foot and liver rot. And
II is certainly the better plan TO adopt
some means Of prevention, aid prac.
tise reasonable care at least to keep
the sheep healthy, and free from all
diseases. 1t is generally considered
that shearing time Is the very best op.
portunity fer dipping. This is mos,
necessary to kill of the lice and ticki
that have been breeding. Much of th,
value Of the feeces depends upon tn,
care the sheep have enjoyed durinl
the previous seasons. The consider
able difference will be In the weight
and ~ matter Of course, In the value
II sheep are allowed to run at will
during the summer season, and tbeI
wintered without shelter Of any
kind, and barely feed enough to exis
upon, on just what will keep then
alive, at shearing time il will secure al
average of no more than four pound
of wool. II will Of necessity grad,
very low under the circumstances
But, II the same grade Of sheep arr
kept upon q good average during the
summer, so they can keep up steady
growth and then be provided with
good dry shelter during the wintel
months, and provided with feed ant
water In plentiful quantities they will
appear In good condition. They d.
not have TO be kept fat enough fol
mutton, but 1t does not pay te
allow them 10 become poor, either
just good thrifty condition is abou
oil that is required, and then the re
turns will be much more satisfactor,
10 all parties concerned. You neet
not expect to double the first yield b,
following the instructions laid down
but you will realize much bette
yield. and this will help TO make th
difference between profit and loss
II reasonable care is given sheep.
profit will invariably be reported from
those who handle them for that pur
pose. But II you let them take care o
themselves the owner will most like
ly report 10 the contrary, and say !
does not pay. II does not pay N keel
stock Of any kind unless you expect y
give II some attention. and more 60
peciAlly the keeping Of sheep for
profit. The time was when stool
could be kept with reasonable prod